When Love Prevailed: A Look Back at Heartwarming Headlines From the Last Year

Valentine’s Day. It’s the
“high holiday” for romance, fairytales and the hope of dreams come true. Our expectation is that the evidence of love will
prevail in grand gestures and declarations from those who have
captured our hearts. Toss in the pressure
and intensity of a somewhat topsy-turvy world potentially clouding our
confidence, and the desire for proof of such enthusiasm can be compounded by a
larger need for us to believe that love can still conquer all.

With such anticipation, Valentine’s Day seemed a perfectly
suitable occasion to ponder triumphs of the heart. In search of affirmation, The Kissing Expert
looked back on the stories that passed through the 24/7 media ether in the last
year, along with turning to her reliable “roundtable” of thought givers.

The opportunity to reflect is also apt considering February 14th honors the life of Valentinus, a young man who was sentenced to death for
marrying couples in religious ceremonies during pagan Rome, and despite his
dire jailhouse situation, fell madly in love while awaiting his fate.

Happily across the board, it appears love prevails in a myriad of
heartwarming forms – some shining and big, others soft and subtle. And the commonality is the compassion of the indomitable human spirit where love’s intent is demonstrated by acts or behavior, and measured in patience, enthusiasm, kindness, courage, faith and encouragement. It can even endure in loss, when love somehow
in its infinitely miraculous way, buoys the sorrow of the heart, inspiring
people to thrive.

Among The Kissing Expert’s most notable moments when love
prevailed over the last year:

In Love
Reignited

A couple who remarried at 85,
almost 50 years after their divorce, and whose re-kindling was in part aided by
their daughter.

A couple who married after being
reunited by a long-lost love letter expressing hope of reconciliation, but
which had slipped unopened from the mantle into the fireplace, where it
remained unread until a home renovation project revealed their intent.

In Sickness

A football player supporting his
4-year-old daughter’s cancer battle by boosting her fighting spirit before
trips to the hospital with “game-day” like pep talks and fists bumps.

A father with cancer who staged a
beautiful mock wedding, and walked his 11-year-old daughter down the aisle so they’d
always have that moment.

A dying man in a hospital who stopped eating, then made a complete recovery when the nurses tracked down
his beloved dog, and reunited the pair.

Acts of
Kindness

An 8-year-old boy who encouraged
his 83-year-old grandfather’s soccer playing, saying to everyone – “Wow,
Grandpa is really good!” – and telling his mother he gave his grandpa a secret
gift by missing some of his shots.

Two sheriffs from different
states who worked together to help a boy’s wish of learning to hunt and fish
come true, funding his trip and equipment.

Teachers who use their small
incomes to help students in the classroom, buying school supplies and
lunches when they are unable to.

...and Acceptance

A transgendered child whose
family documented his journey, encouraging and supporting him all the way, and
teaching the lesson of unconditional love.

Twins who came out to their
father on a phone call, which they videotaped for their blog to give other young
people courage if faced with the same challenge.

In Long Distance

Two young people, one in New
York, the other in Paris, who met while out one night on holiday, then
weathered the miles and miles apart and pressures from their parents to end their relationship, only to eventually marry and have children happily-ever-after.

A middle-aged man in Washington
and a middle-aged woman in London, who met, fell in love, nurtured their
relationship from afar, and become engaged over the holiday during a Caribbean
getaway.

After
Tragedy

A man terribly injured in the
Boston Marathon bombing who married the rehab nurse who had helped him
through the months of painful recovery, and walked victoriously to the altar.

A returning war vet who lost all four limbs and was helped through his recovery by his high-school sweetheart,
strengthening his body, spirit and their relationship in the face of extreme
adversity.

A doctor whose wife and daughters
where killed in a robbery/fire, who found love again, remarried and then welcomed
a baby boy, renewing his life and soul.

Even After Death

An elderly man who carries his
late wife’s photo out to each meal five years after her death.

A wife who wrote her husband a
heartfelt note, which he found days after her passing, encouraging him to smile,
and promising they’d meet again.

A 94-year-old man who recorded a
love song for the wife he lost.

And
Ultimately in a Kiss…

At a fairytale wedding of a
handsome celebrity bachelor and his beautiful, brainy wife.

In the many happy homecomings of
our veterans as they are greeted by loved ones and friends expressing joy in
their safe return.

So with Valentine’s Day upon us, remember the multitude of ways in which love prevails, and "be swift to love.” Enjoy what’s reflected upon you, and how your love halos
others for a truly happy holiday. With
that intent, The Kissing Expert encourages lots of kissing, a Coke and
#MakeItHappy!

Andréa
Demirjian is The Kissing Expert and
author of KISSING. When not thinking, talking and writing about kissing, she
runs an independent marketing business. Andréa believes truly and simply that
kissing is the key to peace on earth. For more kissing tips, find her on
Facebook.